Perhaps it is time to bring WT101 and a couple of other forums over here - like the travel forum that includes all the info on NiagaraCool.
I have never been able to log on from work, except for a short period of time I was ahead of our techies and could disable security long enough to log in. I cannot do that anymore so I don't post there at all. I look in only to see what the plans are for NiagaraCOOL.
Robin, are you listening????

OW Holmes wrote:Perhaps it is time to bring WT101 and a couple of other forums over here - like the travel forum that includes all the info on NiagaraCool.I have never been able to log on from work, except for a short period of time I was ahead of our techies and could disable security long enough to log in. I cannot do that anymore so I don't post there at all. I look in only to see what the plans are for NiagaraCOOL. Robin, are you listening????

I am, but for whatever it's worth, I'm pretty sure that the participants are mirroring all the essentials about NiagaraCool on both forums. As for WT101, my initial feeling was that it remained a good fit with the Netscape Forum's particular focus on wine newbies, although again, we've been <i>trying</i> to maintain WT101 in two places - as a "folder" or separate section on Netscape, but also in the form of at least a thread and TNs here as well. I don't know if that approach isn't working, or if we're simply not publicizing it enough.

Bottom line, I'm willing to hear suggestions, but as I said at the top of the thread, I do feel some desire to keep the Netscape Forum alive, both because I was asked to take it over and made a commitment to do that, and because it really does offer an opportunity to provide some level of wine education to non-wine-geeks who have access to all that group of forums through Netscape and CompuServe. While I don't expect everyone here to participate in that, I appreciate it when WLDG "regulars" are willing to come over and help out.

While I don't expect everyone here to participate in that, I appreciate it when WLDG "regulars" are willing to come over and help out.

Robin, while I am the one who stated that I "don't go there anymore" I would still be willing to go there to help out, if it wasn't so damned difficult to do. Every time I come to the chat I have to shut down my ZoneAlarm firewall, and restart it after I get in. I know that the general feeling is that it is my problem and not a problem with NS/AOL, but I go to one heck of a lot of web pages and don't have that problem. Of course it is not JUST the firewall problem that keeps me from enjoying the WLC, it is a whole host of other issues that keep me away, but if it were not for the firewall issue, I would probably overlook those and still read and post there.

Be sure though that I am not asking for anyone to advise me as to how to work around the firewall issue, because I think I have, except for chat.
The above is just FYI.

I am not Robin as you know Howie, but I don't think it can be done here, or at least not without a monthly fee. If Robin wants to ask a donation towards an annual fee for a top notch chat room I for one would be willing to chip in.

We all know his preference for swilling Thunderbird on the old couch out on the front porch with the hound dog, the shot gun, and nothing between him and mother nature. (Let's not forget the front yard littered with broken down cars and old television sets.)

James, I am about to find out who is, and who is not soft on kids where it comes to responsibility. As to kids doing these things like binge drinking, or expecting a car at age 16 when they are ELIGIBLE to drive. and my believe is that a real good ass kicking by the parent will go a long way to keep them on a path that will NOT lead to trouble. I fully believe that a little (and I emphasize little) fear of Mom and dad is a GOOD thing.

We all know his preference for swilling Thunderbird on the old couch out on the front porch with the hound dog, the shot gun, and nothing between him and mother nature. (Let's not forget the front yard littered with broken down cars and old television sets.)

I take offense at that -- that is hound dawgs, plural son, I say plural. And don't forget about the fly swatter that is also useful as a back scratcher.

Howie Hart wrote:Robin - What is the possibility of having the "Chat" set up through this site?

Sorry, guys ... I didn't mean to ignore you, but I've been out of pocket much of the day.

Here's my knee-jerk reaction: I was delighted to move the chat from our old chat room to CompuServe, partly because I was paying a small but non-trivial sum ($100 a quarter, I think) to rent the old one, and partly because - so soon we forget - the old one was really, really buggy.

It's not feasible to host a chat feature on our own server. Too many security issues.

As we move away from the Netscape/CompuServe forum, I would be willing to consider looking at alternatives, preferably a rental situation like we had before. But I'd want to do some very thorough due diligence and deal with a provider of excellent quality and a robust chatroom that's easy to use and doesn't crash or lock up. Cost is also an issue, because I'm not really comfortable passing the hat to you guys, but at the same time, the number of chatters isn't really sufficient to interest an advertising sponsorship.

I'll be glad to look around and see if I can find anything, and would welcome suggestions.

But the Netscape chat room seems to work quite well, and it's frankly the most robust chat applet I've ever seen. I don't like that you can't post hotlinks or copy-and-paste it, but it has never crashed on us yet, and that's a good thing. And of course it's free.

I am one of the few forumites here who takes a lot of interest in WT 101.
I am back from birding so missed my daily visits. It is a pain posting notes on both forums and I am feeling that 101 should be over here. Have said that for a long time in fact. Karen used to play a role, so did Bill and it was a lot of fun. Not so anymore.
Whats the theme this month? Reminder please..is it "I just dont get it?"

Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote:I am one of the few forumites here who takes a lot of interest in WT 101.I am back from birding so missed my daily visits. It is a pain posting notes on both forums and I am feeling that 101 should be over here. Have said that for a long time in fact. Karen used to play a role, so did Bill and it was a lot of fun. Not so anymore.Whats the theme this month? Reminder please..is it "I just dont get it?"

Welcome back, Bob! We've just been talking about WT101, and about the Netscape Forum, and we'll definitely be looking at a greater presence for it over here.

I believe "I just don't get it" was the original plan for June, but we're wondering if it might be better to go back to the old concept of a specific region and specific variety each month so we can really focus. What do YOU think? I'd like to start the new month officially soon, now that June is here, but we could launch the new one as late as Monday and it would be OK.